Chapter 451: Plans for House Arrest?

At this time, Ms. Nian and Ke Fu were at Tingyue Bay, keeping their son, future daughter-in-law, and daughter company as they prepared to eat dinner; the kitchen was full of the busy figures of Mo Yi and the three children.

Ms. Nian, who had answered the phone, suddenly stood up, her expression tightening, and walked toward the balcony.

Ke Fu, seeing this, followed and pulled the balcony's glass door shut.

Ms. Nian first told Ke Fu that something had happened to Gu Sen, then asked Nian Jingchuan to explain in detail.

Nian Jingchuan said, "I'm not clear on exactly what happened, but the reliable inside word is that Gu Sen knelt in the ancestral hall of the Gu family's old residence for three days and two nights, without a drop of water or grain of rice, and when he came out more than half his hair had gone white and he collapsed from illness."

"The key point isn't there. It's that after Gu Sen collapsed and was sent to the hospital, they didn't tell anyone, keeping it very tight-lipped. Those who knew a little went to ask, but the Gu family wouldn't permit anyone to visit him in the hospital. I had your sister-in-law sound out Gu Hai's wife, and she wouldn't even say which hospital Gu Sen was in, and told your sister-in-law to stop asking."

"The Gu family is really about to have something big happen." Nian Jingchuan sighed. "Mom and Dad are also in a wait-and-see state right now. I know you've been close with Gu Sen since you were little, so I called specifically to tell you. Besides, isn't Gu Sen your daughter-in-law's biological father?"

Ms. Nian listened to her brother's account and frowned. "You mean the Gu family has intentions of putting Gu Sen under house arrest?"

Nian Jingchuan's voice was even: "I never said that."

But he didn't deny the guess, either.

Ms. Nian: "I'll discuss it with Ke Yue."

Nian Jingchuan gave an "Mm" and hung up the phone.

Ms. Nian glanced at the kitchen. Right now Jiang Lai was at the stove, Chongying hovered like a little shadow, standing here a moment, standing there a moment; Zhongyu handed things over skillfully, and if Chongying was in his way, he'd reach out and lift his own little sister aside like a cub by the scruff.

When Jiang Lai looked over she would smile and give Zhongyu a soft glare, and Zhongyu would immediately let go, and Chongying would get smug again, nuzzling her head against Jiang Lai's shoulder, only to be lifted away by her brother again...

And so it repeated.

Ms. Nian sighed inwardly. How wonderful this life was, yet Gu Sen had suddenly met with trouble. Should she tell Jiang Lai?

Ke Yue saw his wife's worry and gently kneaded her shoulder. "Relax. Let's finish this meal properly first. We'll talk about everything else when we get back."

"Mm." Ms. Nian nodded. She had scolded Gu Sen back then, but Gu Sen was also her old friend of many years. How could she not worry when something happened to him?

"Dad! Mom! Time to eat!" Ke Zhongying ran over with a beaming smile, rapped on the glass door, pulled it open, and poked her head in. "How come you two went off to the balcony alone for some couple time? Zhongyu and I never go over there to bother you."

Ms. Nian looked at her daughter and gave a light smile, walking over and poking her forehead. "You."

Ke Zhongying gave a cheeky laugh and pulled her mom toward the dining room, calling out as she went: "Dad, hurry up, or your wife will run off again."

Ke Yue shook his head helplessly and scolded his daughter with calm composure: "No respect for your elders."

Ke Zhongying gave another cheeky laugh.

Jiang Lai looked at Ke Zhongyu's parents and said politely, "Uncle, Auntie, please sit."

As Ms. Nian sat down, she also gestured to Jiang Lai: "Sit, sit. Chongying and I are guests; you and Zhongyu are the hosts."

Ke Zhongyu had already pulled out a chair for Jiang Lai. Jiang Lai sat down, and Ke Zhongyu sat down beside her, taking the seat to Jiang Lai's left, while Ke Zhongying went to the seat on Jiang Lai's right.

Jiang Lai was already used to this. She reached out and pulled Ke Zhongying down to sit, and served her soup first.

A chilly gaze immediately shot over from beside her.

When Ke Zhongyu set a bowl of soup down in front of her, she knew that chilly gaze wasn't directed at her, but at Chongying.

"Did your hand break?" Ke Zhongyu looked at his sister beside him.

Ke Zhongying sipped her soup happily: "Mind your own business."

Ms. Nian smiled and said to Jiang Lai, "Chongying will probably only listen to you from now on."

Ke Zhongying: "Same with my brother. Can't help it. Brother, you and I are biological siblings. I like whoever you like. Not strange, is it?"

Ke Zhongyu's brow twitched violently: "You should go find someone and fall in love."

"Oho! Before you wouldn't let me, afraid I'd steal Sister Jiang Lai from you, and now you're allowing it?" Ke Zhongying said with a grin.

Jiang Lai couldn't help laughing as she looked at Ke Zhongying: "When Chongying gets married someday, you'll be the one crying."

Ke Zhongyu looked dismissive.

During the meal, both Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu noticed that Ms. Nian's expression was a bit off, that she would occasionally zone out. The two exchanged a glance but said nothing.

After the meal, Ke Zhongyu walked his parents out and downstairs, and asked, "What happened?"

Ms. Nian hadn't planned on hiding it from her son: "Gu Sen is in trouble. He knelt in the ancestral hall for three days and apparently collapsed from illness, but the Gu family won't allow anyone to visit him. Your uncle says the Gu family is about to have something big happen."

Ke Zhongyu seized the key point: "Why did Uncle Gu kneel in the ancestral hall?"

He saw Ms. Nian frown slightly. She must have some guess, but it wasn't yet something she could say.

He looked at his father.

Ke Yue said, "Your mother and I will make a trip to B City to look into the situation. We'll talk after we see Gu Sen. As for whether to tell Jiang Lai, you'll have to decide that on your own."

Ke Zhongyu: "Mm, be careful."

He suddenly thought of something: "I remember Gu Zhiyan is in A City. As Uncle Gu's son, does he know what's happening at home?"

This, Ms. Nian didn't know. She shook her head and said, "I'll go ask that child Zhi Yan."

Ke Zhongyu nodded: "Mm. Keep in touch anytime about Uncle Gu's situation."

Watching his parents get in the car and leave, Ke Zhongyu decided on the way upstairs that he wouldn't tell Jiang Lai for now. The exact situation was unclear at the moment. Telling Jiang Lai would only cause her worry or panic.

Back home, Jiang Lai asked, "Uncle and Auntie left?"

"Mm, I watched them get in the car." Ke Zhongyu took Jiang Lai's hand, and the two sat down on the living room sofa.

Ke Zhongying ran out of one of the rooms and said excitedly, "Is that room saved for me? It's full of things I like!"

Ke Zhongyu nodded: "A Lai's idea."

They had originally designated the secondary master bedroom for Ping'an, thinking Jiang Lai would feel more at ease with the siblings living together. But Ping'an went to stay with Chi Grandma, and only came over to stay here occasionally, so they kept it.

Jiang Lai felt that since Ping'an had a room, Chongying should have one too. Even though he had told Jiang Lai that what Ke Zhongying lacked least was houses and rooms, Jiang Lai still turned one of the guest rooms into Ke Zhongying's bedroom.

She even pestered him to ask about Ke Zhongying's hobbies.

How could he resist Jiang Lai standing in front of him saying, "Ke Zhongyu, will you tell me or not?"

He spilled everything at once.

These past few days Jiang Lai had spent most of her time busy with this.

Knowing that Sister Jiang Lai had specially decorated a room for her, Ke Zhongying wanted nothing more than to rush over and plant a kiss on her. She was just about to rush over for a hug when her brother, quick-eyed and quick-handed, scooped Sister Jiang Lai up and instead set her down on the sofa on the other side.

Ke Zhongying: "???"

Jiang Lai was also stunned for a moment. Though she'd been constantly carried around by Ke Zhongyu lately, she hadn't gotten used to it to this extent.

"You..." She met Ke Zhongyu's deep, gentle gaze and said helplessly, "That's about enough."

It made her legs feel like they were going to degenerate.

Ke Zhongying stood with hands on hips, glaring at her own brother with fierce eyes while looking at Jiang Lai with pitiful eyes.

Ke Zhongyu: "Don't always get fooled by her."

Jiang Lai only smiled. Ke Zhongyu pinched her chin and feigned coercion: "Say you remember."

Jiang Lai nodded with an "mm-hm": "I remember."

Ke Zhongyu didn't believe she'd actually remember.

Ke Zhongying stayed over tonight, and even said with utmost thoughtfulness: "My brother likes quiet, and the place he lives in has the best soundproofing."

Jiang Lai: "..."

They did nothing at night. She nestled in Ke Zhongyu's arms and asked: "What happened?"

Ke Zhongyu's arm muscles tensed.